Joey Pankake Swinging for the Fences Wednesday

South Carolina infielder Joey Pankake is one of eight players that will compete in the 2013 TD Ameritrade Home Run Derby on Wednesday, July 3 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha. 

The event will be taped and televised nationally on ESPN on Thursday, July 4 at 8 p.m. ET.  Pankake started 62 games for the Gamecocks and hit 11 homers with 42 RBI and a .496 slugging percentage.  Pankake ranked sixth in the SEC this year in home runs as well as 10th in slugging percentage and 14th in runs batted in.

The TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby includes three rounds of play: Round 1 featuring all contestants, Round 2 featuring the top four after Round 1, and Round 3 featuring the top two after Round 2.   In each round, contestants will be challenged to hit as many home runs as they can before logging 10 “out’s,” or hits that do not result in a home run.  Balls reaching the warning track will not count as an “out,” giving players another opportunity at bat.  Additionally, following the tenth and final out of each “at bat,” contestants will have an opportunity to hit a home run with the ‘Bonus Ball.’ If successful, the special ball will tack two additional home runs onto the contestant’s total score.

Tickets are $8 for children, $12 for adults, or $35 for a ‘Family Four-Pack’ and may be purchased in-person from the CenturyLink Center arena box offices, by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, or online at www.collegehomerunderby.com. Handling fees will apply to those tickets purchased over the phone or online.

Follow the TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby on Facebook  and Twitter for the latest event updates and information.